Entries from December 2011

An economics professor made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. This particular class had insisted that the current socialist movement in America is working and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich; a great equalizer.
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Since before Halloween, stores have been putting out their Christmas merchandise. Red ribbons and silver bells along with trees of every shape, size, and color wait in the stores to decorate someone’s home. I actually saw a metallic purple tree in Savannah a few weeks ago. It was resplendent with pink lights and green ribbons. I won’t say I hated it, but I wouldn’t want it standing in my living room for the month of December—actually not even one day of it. I’m more a traditionalist myself. I want my old faithful ornaments that the children and grandchildren made or that we’ve collected over the years. I also like the ornaments that someone chose or made just for my family. Just today we added a handful of red Santas done in plastic canvas and filled with Hershey’s kisses. None of our ornaments are expensive. They have little monetary value, but to me they are priceless. I do like my Christmas tree.
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I remember the day I tried to pick up a two-hundred pound sack of fertilizer. I was young and thought I was strong but I could not budge it. A short, thin, wiry man walked up, knelt down and grabbed it, heisted it up and onto his shoulder and walked off with it. This took place at R.W. Griffins Warehouse somewhere around 1959. By then, 200 pound sacks were relics, but back in the bowels of that old warehouse there were many relics that today would be priceless antiques. I would go there each day after school and help do whatever work was at hand, like unloading a boxcar of fertilizer until 5:30 and quitting time, whereupon I would catch a ride home with one of the men who worked there and who lived close to our home. You see, my Momma was working in Douglas at C.O. Smith Guano Company then and she moved me from the Hebron Institute of Higher Learning of the Piney Woods to the Douglas Elementary School where she thought for some reason that I would have more opportunity to excel. This plan might have worked except for the assorted miscreants in my sixth grade class with whom I became fast friends. All I knew at that time was hunting, fishing, and work. They introduced me to other areas of human endeavor that I didn’t even know existed, all of which were in direct conflict with my Sunday school upbringing and complete innocence. Of course, they say the same thing about me though I am the one still in recovery. Anyway, rather than ride home with Momma each afternoon, I chose to work at the fertilizer warehouse for free after school and hang around with the older men who didn’t care if I smoked, chewed, or cussed, as long as I worked. Muddy Waters called it being a ‘mannish boy’.
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William (Warren) Harvey, 79, of Baxley, and Wayne County, died Friday, December 2, 2011 at his residence, after an extended illness. The Glynn County native and former resident of Odum, had resided in Appling County for the past 49 years and was a retired State Supervisor with the Board of Corrections and the Department of Labor for 20 years. He was formerly with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was known for writing, playing, and recording country music. He was a U. S. Air Force Veteran and was an avid fisherman and gardener.
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Paul T. Yandell, 76, of Hendersonville, TN passed away Nov. 21, 2011 after a lengthy battle of cancer. He was a devoted husband and a loving father and was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore B. “Ted” and Imogene Ridings Yandell.
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Roy C. Yawn, 70, died Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011. Roy was born May 4, 1941 in Appling County to the late George Clinton Yawn and the late Georgia Mae Carter Yawn. He was a member of Ferry Road Baptist Church. Mr. Yawn was retired from Baxley Veneer & Cleat. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Devin Helms.
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Former Appling County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard W. Crosby, 36, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court for the offense of being an accessory after the fact to a drug crime. Appearing before Chief Judge Lisa Godbey Wood in Brunswick, Crosby was sentenced to two months in prison, to be followed by a one-year term of supervised release. He was also fined $1,500.
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Sheriff Benny Deloach would like to report the following incidents handled by deputies with the Appling County Sheriff’s Department.

Nov. 26, answered a call to Gardenia Circle in reference to a juvenile complaint. A grandmother has custody of a fourteen-year-old grandchild who is visiting from a facility. The grandchild ran away taking a cell phone. A juvenile complaint form was filed and BOLO was issued for the child. The juvenile was found and returned to the facility.
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If you missed the annual Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Parade and the City of Baxley’s Winter Wonderland Saturday evening in downtown Baxley, you missed some wonderful events. The events were well attended this year and citizens seemed to enjoy both events. At 8:00 p.m. the night sky lit up with a fantastic fireworks display sponsored by the Appling County Commissioners.[Full Story »]

Many Appling County Pirate fans traveled over 270 miles to Calhoun on Friday, Dec. 2 to support the Pirates as they played in the State 2AA final four against the Calhoun Yellow Jackets (14-0). The Pirates were not able to pick up the win, losing 14-51, but ended the season with an amazing record of 12-2 overall while going 6-1 in region play. The Pirates made it to the final four for the second time in school history with the only previous time coming during the 1999 season and one season removed from finishing 4-7 overall and 3-4 in region play.

Early Wednesday, B. J. and I awoke to a faint pattering on our bedroom window. She rolled over and pulled the curtain. Rain was coming down hard. I shook some of the sleep off, pulled myself from the sack and wobbled out on the patio to get close up to the Tennessee rain. The landscape was beautiful even in the rain. A quick check of the local weather on my state-of-the-art Blackberry indicated that there would be rain most of the day. There would be no helicopter rides over the Smokies today.
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Did you pray that others would be blessed? Did you visit or make a phone call to someone that is homebound? Did you feed or share your food with some hungry person? Did you consider someone who was less fortunate than you?

Did you lend a helping hand to someone in an act of love with a caring spirit? Did you give thanks to God for life, health, strength, and food on your table, shelter and clothing?
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The Poor Boys Cruisers are planning a Toy Run and cruise for Saturday, December 10. The cruise will begin at the Baxley Huddle House, departing at 10:00 a.m., and travel to Brunswick for lunch. The cruise will then come back to the Baxley Huddle House for a “cruise in” that will feature door prizes and a 50/50 drawing.
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On Thursday, December 8, at 7:00 p.m. in the Appling County High School Fine Arts Center, the ACMS and ACHS choral departments will present their annual winter show for the public. There will be no admission charge and everyone is invited to attend.
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